Duke Energy Corporation $DUK Stock: Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. Boosts Stake

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its stake in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 68.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 429,597 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 175,194 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. owned approximately 0.06% of Duke Energy worth $48,978,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 15.7% in the 2nd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 70,388 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $8,910,000 after purchasing an additional 9,562 shares in the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 15.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 1,283,213 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $162,429,000 after buying an additional 170,700 shares during the period. Nykredit A S purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $17,106,000. V. M. Manning & CO. Inc. purchased a new stake in Duke Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,432,000. Finally, Cohen Klingenstein LLC acquired a new stake in Duke Energy during the second quarter valued at $2,051,000. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Duke Energy stock opened at $125.40 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $118.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.66. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $112.40 and a 1 year high of $134.49. The company has a market capitalization of $97.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.36.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.13. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.78% and a return on equity of 9.78%. The firm had revenue of $7.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.66 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.25 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $1.0850 per share. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 13th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.17%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on DUK shares. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating and set a $121.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 12th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $127.00 to $128.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. KeyCorp decreased their price objective on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $128.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on Duke Energy from $132.00 to $124.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $132.19.

Key Duke Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley raised its price target for Duke Energy from $127 to $128 while maintaining an “equal weight” rating. The increase suggests limited but slightly improved upside based on the firm’s updated outlook. Morgan Stanley raises Duke Energy price target
• Positive Sentiment: A Davidson County, North Carolina, planning board recommended approval of a Duke Energy natural-gas project, while related rezoning plans in Lexington moved forward. Progress on the project could support Duke’s generation capacity and long-term reliability, although additional approvals may still be required. Davidson County planning board recommends approval
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy lineworkers received six awards at the International Lineman’s Rodeo. The recognition highlights workforce expertise and grid-maintenance capabilities but is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Duke Energy lineworkers earn six awards
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy has attracted increased attention from Zacks readers. The coverage is informational and does not represent a new earnings, guidance, or valuation catalyst. Zacks Duke Energy investor attention
• Negative Sentiment: HSBC initiated coverage with a “hold” rating and a $123 price target, below the recently cited trading level. The cautious view signals limited near-term upside and could restrain enthusiasm for DUK. HSBC initiates coverage of Duke Energy
• Negative Sentiment: Cincinnati residents pushed back against Duke Energy’s proposed rate increase. Opposition could create regulatory uncertainty or delay recovery of higher operating and infrastructure costs if regulators require changes to the request. Cincinnati residents oppose Duke Energy rate increase

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation is an energy holding company that provides regulated electric and natural gas utility services in the United States. Its electric utilities generate, transmit, distribute and sell electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers. The company’s generation portfolio includes nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and renewable energy resources.

Duke Energy serves customers primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.